Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Cardiac Reserve

Thursday, March 6, 2014 Pomalyst Study Cycle 78:

My Doctor L and the crew of three CNP's were all unavailable for this visit to Mayo, so I saw Dr MG instead. In terms of the Mayo Clinic hierarchy, that's an upgrade. We had met before, but he had not seen me as a patient. We quickly agreed that the myeloms was still stable, and he in fact commented that the Pomalyst trial has been a home run for me. Indeed! Six years now, and still counting - I am so fortunate. IgG was up just slightly, but Lambda light chains are down a little, and maybe both changes are within measurement error anyway. No change. I am starting Cycle 79, continuing to hope and pray.

We discussed last month's influenza A and accompanying pneumonia at some length. He gave me a rather thorough chest exam, listening carefully to breath and heart sounds, and pronounced the breathing clear and the heartbeats strong and steady.

Three different doctors have treated or examined me now regarding that pneumonia, and all three have volunteered, without my asking, that my fitness may have played a role in my recovery. Today Dr. MG used the term "cardiopulmonary reserve," (I think that was the term), and remarked that a person without that reserve might might have recovered more slowly, if at all.

Of course there is no proof that fitness played a part, only opinions. Nevertheless I'm a true believer, and I think that my immune system may be stronger because of that fitness. To achieve that, we:

Eat the best food that we can find;

Get plenty of vigorous exercise;

Get enough sleep, and;

Do our best to manage our stress.

So far I have not found anyone in the know who disputes the potential benefits of that lifestyle.

4 comments:

Wow, thank you for sharing your story. Sounds very promising. I am just in my second year with MM though I know I have had it for a while. Apparantly my ribs and spine look like swiss cheese, yet I walk alot and do yoga. I do not want to run as I worry my bones can't handle it. I work at a health food store and am very informed. I take good calcium with D3, K2 and Magnesium amongst other things. Garden of Life make amazing stuff, check it out. I taker curcumin and like you, work on make each day the best I can make it. After two stem cell transplants I don't want to know where the bone marrow is at, as it started at 70 percent, right before my first stemcell and 9 chemo cycles. My Bence Jones started at 16000 and after second transplant is now 165. My kappy started at 5000 and is now at 250. Come a longggg way, close to dying I am sure. Have had 8 transfusions, but my rbc are normal now. I made a youtube last week, and hoping to continue to bring awareness to MM as it took wayyyy too long for my doctors to find it. Please check it out and would love to hear back from you. I believe we both still have a lot of living left in us :>) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBAeuheOqxw

Here at Pace Per Mile, we have been inspired by your story that we read here: http://www.mlive.com/sports/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/03/73-year-old_myeloma_patient_do.html and how inspirational you are to those around you.

We would like to set up a time about two weeks from now to interview you and talk a little bit about why you decided to start running, how the cancer has effected your life and how you've chose to not let it stop you from reaching your goals here on Pace Per Mile. The audio interview would take about 15 to 25 minutes via phone. The interview would air on multiple locations from our website that reaches more than 6.5 million visitors a year, our iTunes subscribers, and social networking including nearly 55,000 followers online. Simply, it's a way for us to promote what you did and get your name out there.

We will try to schedule the interview around your availability so if you could let me know a few dates and times that would work best for you, that would be great. Is it possible for you to contact me at alexis.nicholas@pacepermile.com.

About Me

I have been running since 2002, and I enjoy everything about it. In 2003 I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer with no cure. In 2008 doctors discovered that the myeloma was attacking my bones, but we are attacking it back, successfully so far. Running is a part of that, as well as a celebration of life. My sweetheart of 53 years and my daughter often run with me. Live one day at a time and make it a masterpiece!